Carbonator



July23, 1946.

P. ANDRON ETAL GARBONATOR Filed April 4, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 23, 1946. P. ANDRoN ETAL CARBONATOR Filed April 4, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED o'FrlcE a CARBONATOR philip Andron, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Harold Krichman, Bayonne, N. J.

Application April 4, 1945, Serial No. 586,536

6 Claims. l

This invention relates to a car-bonator and more particularly to a compact automatic device which will carbonate water or other liquid for use in soda fountains or otherwise.

An object of the invention is to provide a carbonator which is automatic in its operation and which will be self-operating.

A further object is to provide a carbonator which will thoroughly miX the gas with the liquid so as to continuously supply carbonated liquid as it is needed. i

A further object is to provide a device oi the character described which will operate only when required but which, when once actuated will always be ready for further operation.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear from the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a carbonator embodying our invention; l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view in elevation showing the operation of the carbonator; n

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the lin 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the circuit and switches involved; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the manner of operating the micro-switches.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the carbonator I may be encased in a suitable covering II with the provision for current furnished by the cable I2; for furnishing water by means of the line I4, and for furnishing gas under pressure by means of the line I5. A further line I leads to a conventional safety valve at the end thereof, Il. The line I6 is also provided with a three-way cock valve I8 which when in one position will connect the carbonator to the safety valve, and which, in the other position will connect the carbonator to the atmosphere. An outlet I9 is provided at the bottom of the carbonator for drawing off the carbonated liquid.

The carbonator I0 is preferably made up of a base casting 25, a chamber 26 which may be made of two sections of tubing 21 and 28 suitably fastened together with the gasket 29 therebetween by means of bolts 3B. Another casting 3| is provided, and the tubular sections 21 and 28 are suitably aiixed to the castings 25 and 3l by means of soldering or otherwise. The casting 25 is provided with an opening 32 communicating with the outlet I9. The casting 3| is provided Vwith a (o1. zei-93) chamber 33 having an opening therein; 34,

through which extends the float rod 35- support' ing the iloat 36 within the protecting bracket 31. On the other end of the float rod 35 is mounted the contact member 38 and this extends `through the bellows 39 Xed at 43 to the casting3l. A water inlet coupling 4I is provided to receive the tubing I4. 1

Mounted in the casting 3i' are stainless steel ball bearings 45 and similar bearings '45 are mounted -in-the casting 25. Bearings 45 are held in place by the snap ring 41. Mounted in the bearings 45 and 45 is a stainless steel tubing 55 and a rubber gasket 48 is placed about the top of this tubing to prevent 'gas from passing over theoutside thereof.` Mounted on the tubing 5i) are a plurality of agitators 5I. Preferably these are iour-bladed sheet metal agitators and may be mounted on the outside of the tubing 50 in any conventional manner. On the lower half of the tubing 5B are mounted a series of arcuate tubular members 52 communicating with the in'- side of the tube 50 and having an inner bore 53 considerably smaller than the inner bore 54 of the tube 50. The top 55 of the tube 50 cornmunicates with the bore 56 in the casing 3| which, in turn, communicates with the gas inlet I5.

Mounted above the bellows 39 and the contact member 38 of the float rod 35 are a pair of microswitches 6B and 6I having dependent contact points 62 and 63, the contact point 62 being somewhat lower than the contact point 63. The micro-switches and 6l are supported by suitable brackets 64. Also 'mounted above the casting 3l is a relay 65. A suitable cap or cover of metal or plastic 66 is provided to cover this mechanism. Mounted in the water line l5 is a check valve E8 and in the gas intake line I5 is mounted a solenoid valve 69.

When it is desired to put the unit into operation, the three-way valve I8 is opened to allow communication between the chamber 25 and the outside atmosphere. Water is then let into `the water line 'ID and the three-way valve closed so as to provide communication between the chamber and the relief valve only. As the water level rises the float 36 will rise until the contact member 38 closes the micro-switch 50, thus energizing the circuit and opening the solenoid valve 69 to allow the gas to enter throughthe inlet I5 into the center of the tube 50. The gas will naturally force its way through the arcuate spinnertubes 52 thus causing the tube 5U to rotate in the bearings 45 and 45 and to rotate with it the agitators 5I insuring a thorough mixing of the liquid.

As the gas pressure, which is normally introduced at about 75 pounds to the square inch, increases, it will prevent the entry of more liquid through theinlet I4 in View of the fact that the into operation the relay which will, in turn, close the solenoid valve and shut off the gas pressure.' The carbonator is at this point fully charged.

As the carbonized liquid is drawn off 'through the outlet I9 and the water level falls, v'the gas pressure will likewise fall. Upon the fallingof the water pressure the float 36 will dropout of.

contact with the contact element 62 of the switch 60. As the gas pressure falls, more water will be valve controlled by said circuit, a pair of switch members in said circuit, means for introducing gas into said chamber under pressure controlled by said valve, one of said switch members being operated by said oat rod to open said valve and the otherof said switch members being operated by said bellows to close said valve 4. In a carbonator a chamber, a pipe introducing water into said chamber, a check valve in said pipe to prevent the escape of gas from said chamber when the pressure of gas is greater than I the pressure of water in said pipe, means for l introducing gas into said chamber under presvfsure, av Valve controlling said gas introducing j means, acircuit controlling the operation of said valve, an opening in said chamber, a bellows on said opening, a oat having a iioat rod extendable to pass through the check valve into the cont Itainer, thus raising again the float valve to actuate the micro-switch 6!! which. in turn, will open the solenoid valve and allow more gas to enter. The operation, therefore, will be continuous and the carbonator will Valways be charged as long as the unit is in operation. Y

It will be appreciated that many variations, renements and modications of our invention may be made without departing from the'basic invention, and that'several diierent Vcircuits may be employed to'produce the same results.'

We claim: A

1.In a carbonator a chamber, a tubular memn ber rotatably mounted in said chamber Vextending throughout the length of said chamber, agitators on said tubular member, arcuate tubular spinner members mounted on said tubular member spaced throughout its length and communicating with'the center thereof, means for introducing Wlterinto said chamber, means for introducinggas intosaid chamber under pressure 'through'said tubular member and said spinners, a valve controlling said gas introducing means,

means operated by the level of the water in said chamber to open said valve, additional means operated by the pressure in said chamber to close saidv valve and means for closing the water-introducing means to prevent the escape of gas when the gas reaches a predetermined pressure.

2. In a carbonator a chamber, a tubular member rotatably mounted in said chamber, agitators on said tubular member, arcuate tubular spinner members mounted in said tubular memmeans for introducing water intosaid chamber, means for introducing gas into said chamber under pressure through said tubular member and said spinners, a valve controlling said gas intro- ,ducing means, a float in said chamber, a bellows in said chamber, a pair of contacts mounted above said Boat and said bellows and operated thereby, one of said contacts actuating the circuit to open said gas Valve when said float reaches a predetermined position and the other. of said contacts actuating a circuit to close said gas valve when the pressureA in said chamber reaches a predetermined point to operate said bellows.

3. In a carbonator a chamber, an openingin the top of said chamber, a bellows on said opening, a float having a float rod extending through said bellows, a circuit, a relay 'in said circuit, a

ber and communicating with the center thereof, 155

ing through said bellows, a pair of switch members in said circuit, onevof said switch members actuating said circuit to open said valve,y the other of said switch members actuating said'circuit to yclose said valve, the rst of said switch members being closed bysaid oat rod when said oat `reaches a predetermined position and the second of said switch members being closed when the gas in said chamber reaches a predetermined pressure, each of said switch members being open when the pressure in said chamber falls below a predetermined point.

5. In a carbonator a chamber, a pipe'introducing water into said chamber, acheckvalve in said pipe to prevent the escape Aof gas from said chamber when the pressure of gas is greater than the pressure .'ofrwater in said'pipe, means for introducing gas into said chamber under pressure, a valve controllingV said gas introducing means, a circuit controlling the operation of said valve, an opening in said chamber, a bellows on said opening, a float having afloat rod extending through said bellows, a pair of switch members in said circuit, one of said switch members lactuating said circuit to open said' valve, `theother of said switch members actuating'said circuitto close said valve, the rst ofsaid switch members being closed by said float rod when said-float reaches apredetermined positionand the second when the pressure in said Vchamber falls below a predetermined point, and the float moves downwardly in said chamber.

6. In a carbonator a chamber, an opening in the top of said chamber, a bellows on said opening, a float having Va oat rod extending through said bellows, means for introducing gas into said chamber, a valve controlling said means, a, circuit operating said valve, a relay in'said circuit, a pair of switch members positioned under said bellows, said switch members having contacts depending therefrom, one of said switch members having longer contact than the other so that it is operated by said float rod when said float rises in said chamber, said switch member actuating said circuit to open said valve, said second switch member having a contact to close said switch when the pressure in said chamber operates said bellows, said second switch member operating 

